Calvary Bible Church - Student Ministryhttp://cbcvt.org/topics/student-ministry
enChallenging Students to Excel No Matter the Settinghttp://cbcvt.org/blog/challenging-students-excel-no-matter-setting
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>As a small city minister from central VT I am often asked why I spend so much time studying urban issues. I can totally understand this question because I must admit that I do spend an inordinate amount of time reading urban ministry books, blogs, and studies. This is a practice that started for me while at Moody Graduate School in Chicago and it is a direct result of my time studying theology, practice, and principles of urban ministry with my friend and mentor Dr. John Fuder.</p>
<p>Doc helped me to rethink my views on ministry. He challenged me through books by great men such as Dr. John Perkins and Dr. Roger Greenway, along with others to seriously consider the implications of applying urban ministry practices in smaller cities, and even rural areas. In essence, Doc changed my worldview significantly which has enabled our student ministry to remain effective in our ever more “urbanized” small rural city.</p>
<p>What is so urban about a city with a population of 17,000 in a state of 600,000? That is a fair question and I one that had to ask myself when this journey began 8 years ago. The answer is simple: we have a sin problem out here too. Yes I think that the issue that binds the big city, small city, rural towns, and suburbia together is, at its root the same sin issue man has dealt with since the fall.</p>
<p>To be certain, the manifestations of this issue have some distinctions from place to place, but we must realize that at the core, they are all identical. Recognizing this reality, I became determined to help our students see the reality of this fact. This desire was the catalyst for building a cross-cultural student training program in our student ministry that has led to strong partnerships with ministries in the south side of Chicago as well as other urban centers. The goal is simply to help our students see that the city has many of the same issues they have and to help those in city see they are not struggling alone. Along the way I have been blessed to see that the other commonality between these groups is the ability to overcome obstacles to experience the victory available in Christ!</p>
<p>As I began to study the trends in Rutland, Vermont along with my studies of the urban culture in Chicago, I noted three key areas of struggle that exist across socio-economic, racial, and geographic lines.</p>
<ul><li>In every setting students desire to be accepted. Across the board from city kids to farm kids, this need to fit in pervades the human condition. We are wired for fellowship, and when this need isn’t met through Christ and Christ centered relationships it leads to destructive attempts to fill those holes. The result of these empty attempts to find fellowship is the formation of gangs, the troubling increase in bullying, and substance abuse issues. In my little city alone we are seeing gangs forming (Gangster Disciples, and Los Solidos to name two), the poor being taken advantage of by slumlords, and as our ethnic diversity changes we are seeing a marked increase in violence and drug related crime. I once asked a young man in south Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood why he joined a gang and his answer was immediate and succinct: “How else am I going to be accepted around here? And man, being accepted means being alive.” We have to rethink our approach to reach all the young people in every location who see being accepted at all costs as the only means of survival.</li>
</ul><ul><li>In every setting students need to find their identity. One of the greatest tragedies of the Fall is our loss of true identity. Our students struggle to see themselves as valuable creations of the King. Whether this is a product of fatherless homes, unbearable economic circumstances, or some other sin issue the end result is the same. We have seen an increase in teen suicides, more teen on teen violence, an epidemic of sexual dysfunction manifest in pre-marital sexual escapades, sexual identity issues, and a porn addiction of epidemic proportions. I was recently counseling with a student who was compromising in the area of relationships who stated, “If he makes me feel complete how can what we are doing possibly be wrong.” Young people need to be re-focused on the beauty of their identity in Christ by being introduced to his truth and then challenged to live without compromise.</li>
</ul><ul><li>In every setting students are barraged by media. No one will argue that our culture is more media driven or influenced than ever before. In fact I would argue that many urban influences are finding greater traction in rural areas because of the increased exposure of all students to media. Students are being hand fed their morals from stars like Jay-z, Ric Ross, Snooki, and other less than admirable figures. As they bury themselves in social media and online gaming, they are creating alternate realities where anything goes. Even though they are “more connected” then ever before they are becoming completely disconnected from any sense of right and wrong. They are watching depravity play out in their music, TV, and other venues of entertainment. We need to attempt to counterbalance this moral slide by making positive investments in students while offering positive alternatives to the moral filth available. Students need alternatives but most importantly they need to have their own moral compass tweaked to line up with the Creator of the universe. In short, we need to model and proclaim Christ within our context to show them the reality of His love, justice, and grace!</li>
</ul><p>Each of these issues brings to light the hopelessness of our world when Christ isn’t in the center. We must begin to rethink our approaches to these issues so that He can transform lives.</p>
<p>To my Urban friends, I start by saying that on behalf of white rural America, I am deeply sorry that we have judged you, tried to “fix you”, and shoved our brand of churchy Christianity down your throats. I pray that you can forgive us as we seek true partnership centered on the Lord we all serve!</p>
<p>To my fellow suburban/rural counterparts, we must seek to learn from our brothers and sisters in the city. They are innovators, “over comers”, and people who have learned to shine Christ in some difficult situations. What they have done we need to do! Sin is universal and the urban issues are also rural/Suburban issues.</p>
<p>The Church needs to stop being the church in the city and a separate church in the country. We must take Paul’s words in Ephesians 4:2-4 to heart: “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—” When we focus on Christ as the great equalizer, we see young people from the city, suburbs, and countryside overcoming the sin that so easily pulls them down. When we the church invests in students they begin to have hope. In my years investing in Chicago and Rutland I have seen many break free of their circumstances and start to shine. We must recognize that there are many success stories, whether it be the young lady in Rutland who became a leader in a church after her father was sent to jail, or the young man in Englewood who in his junior year of High school serves as a role model for the young children or “shorties” in his neighborhood by excelling in school while making positive lifestyle choices or countless others.</p>
<p>The longer I remain in ministry the more I believe that every student can be a success story if we simply invest in him or her with the heart of Christ. It is my absolute contention that regardless of where a student lives we must focus on four simple philosophies of ministry. As long as their implementation is properly contextualized, these are practices that I have seen work wherever they are tried from the south side of Chicago to the small towns in Vermont.</p>
<ol><li>We need to introduce them to Christ. We must use scripture as the basis of our efforts to reach the lost and to help grow the redeemed!</li>
<li>We need to give them a cause to serve. When young people are serving in a church or for the betterment of their community it becomes increasingly possible to help them see their worth and avoid some of the pitfalls mentioned above. In the Christian context that we so passionately hope they will seek to live within we need them to be active in their churches.</li>
<li>As they grow beyond their circumstances, hopefully as a result of Christ at work with them, we need to encourage them to share their victory stories with their peers. One thing I know to be true is that students will listen to students.</li>
<li>We need to encourage them to expect more of themselves! Let’s stop allowing them to expect so little from themselves (Romans 12:1-2). Challenge them to defy the odds. Challenge them to set lofty goals as they set high expectations for themselves and their peers. Allow them the freedom to fail while attempting the seemingly impossible plans they dream up for His glory. Encourage them to stop settling for compromise in their academic lives, their home lives, and their spiritual lives. Hold them accountable to His standards of excellence and watch them grow deeper and more committed to Christ than those around them.</li>
</ol><p>I envision a day when student ministers across our nation link arms and commit to serving each other. Our students and our ministry have built lasting partnerships and friendships in the city because we have come to the table seeking true partnership. We have come alongside our brothers and sisters without an agenda. Our only goal is to serve alongside them as ministry equals. This investment has allowed us to learn the valuable lesson that the city and the country are at war with the same “demons’ and sin nature. I want to ask each of you to join us in battle for the souls of our young people wherever they live. Let’s learn together by admitting that we both have something to teach and that we are united in battle for one cause!</p>
<p> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/itbelongstothem.wordpress.com/116/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/itbelongstothem.wordpress.com/116/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="https://pixel.wp.com/b.gif?host=itbelongstothem.wordpress.com&amp;blog=27060495&amp;post=116&amp;subd=itbelongstothem&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" /></p>
</div></div></div><section class="field field-name-field-topic field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Topics:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topics/itbelongstothem">Itbelongstothem</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topics/discipleship">Discipleship</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topics/empowering-students">Empowering Students</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topics/outreach">Outreach</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topics/student-ministry">Student Ministry</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topics/urban-ministry">Urban Ministry</a></li></ul></section> <h3 class="field-label">
Link </h3>
<div class="field field-name-field-link field-type-text field-label-above view-mode-rss">
https://itbelongstothem.wordpress.com/2012/11/13/challenging-students-to-excel-no-matter-the-setting/ </div>
Tue, 13 Nov 2012 15:19:59 +0000rob106 at http://cbcvt.orgMinistry Longevityhttp://cbcvt.org/blog/ministry-longevity
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>This year marks a milestone in my ministry that I frankly never thought I would see. When my church graduates our seniors this year, we will be graduating a class that I met as 1st graders. As I finish my 11th year and enter my 12th here at Calvary Bible Church, I am astounded by how wonderfully blessed I have been to be a part of this family. I am also dreadfully aware that my tenure here is well outside the average for those of us in Student Ministry. In my research I have seen the average tenure of student/youth pastors is 18 to 24 months. Frankly, exact numbers don’t matter; what matters is that here in New England I have witnessed first hand the revolving door of youth ministry taking place all around me. The other thing that matters is that students suffer when yet another adult enters and then promptly exits their lives so quickly.</p>
<p>Why does any of this matter? The simple answer is that longevity in ministry promotes ministry stability. I have watched these young people grow up, and, more importantly, they are aware that I have done so as well. Our ministry is filled with a sense of security, certainty, and relational living that I never saw in my first 7 years of ministry when I was the floating youth guy. These students know I am here for them no matter what they experience. They know everything about me. More importantly, however, they know everything about my dedication to the Savior, which is what allows me to be so completely dedicated to my family, His church, and them as ministers of the Gospel. On top of this, the people of our community see a minister of the Gospel who is committed to serving our city as a resource, cheerleader, counselor, and even a moral conscience when needed. What if this kind of ministry longevity became the norm instead of the exception? I personally dream of a day when it does!</p>
<p>My desire to see this become a reality has caused me to evaluate the past 11 years and try to identify how I have been able to remain in a role I pray to continue in for years to come. My hope is that others who are called to do so can pursue this longevity as the norm and not the exception. I have identified 5 keys that have contributed to the success He has given us in maintaining a “long haul” ministry.</p>
<ol><li><strong>Personal Commitment to Longevity</strong>. As a minister in New England, I knew that if I accepted this call for anything less than 5 years I would never see great kingdom fruit. As my wife and I considered this call, we did so with a long-term view. We literally asked ourselves if we could see ourselves retiring from this position in 30 years. Once we determined that the answer was <em>yes</em>, we knew it was the move God had for us. This doesn’t mean we aren’t open to His call away from CBC but it does mean we aren’t looking at the want ads on a regular basis. When things get tough, as they sometimes do in ministry, we look back to our call here in 2001 as a reminder that we are here for the good, the bad, and the ugly. Knowing that we are called here for this extended season has helped us weather storms and has kept us focused on His plans instead of ours…in ways that I never thought possible.</li>
<li><strong>Personal commitment to spiritual growth, accountability, and transparency</strong>. I have been a ministry statistic because of my own personal pride, sin, and stupidity. In the late 90’s I worked for a parachurch outreach ministry where we had great success reaching into a local high school in the South. Unfortunately, along with this success came a slippery slope of compromise where “Rob” became the focus – instead of Christ – and ended in a tremendous fall. I had become so focused on doing things in my own strength that I started believing I didn’t need Christ. I eventually was forced to leave the ministry while the Lord hammered me back into shape. From this personal failing I learned the valuable lesson that unless I am constantly growing in Christ, I have no business ministering in Christ’s name. Over the past 11 years I have ensured that there are many wonderful men and women holding me accountable as I live transparently before them and my King. No area of my life is off limits to scrutiny because I never want to allow myself to slip away from my first love! Ministry longevity requires one to be first and foremost a sold out growing disciple of Jesus Christ!</li>
<li><strong>Staying focused on the “main thing” while constantly innovating.</strong> Over the years, our ministry has remained innovative and sharp simply because it has never used anything but the bible as its foundation. We have changed curriculum, programming approaches, and all the peripheral stuff but we remain committed to the call in Ephesians 4:11-16. Our mission is to equip ministers who contribute to the current generation of His church. A student in 1st grade right now knows that when they reach 7th grade, we will engage them in ministry by equipping (discipling) and empowering (training and giving authority) them to become the leaders of their ministry. They know they will have older mentors, peer mentors, and will be mentoring someone (because they themselves had someone). This knowledge sparks creativity along with a passion to live for Christ. In short, our ministry has become a vital part of the church, which leads to this kind of long-term investment because the leadership sees the value the ministry has in equipping the saints!</li>
<li><strong>A healthy relationship with my senior pastor.</strong> My senior pastor is my biggest cheerleader! It helps that he has been here 21 years now and thus understands the value of longevity. From the very start, he and I cultivated a relationship based on positional respect, personal respect, and a mutual commitment to open, honest communication. Over the years we have become true ministry partners, teammates, and friends. I respect his position without question. I lift him up in prayer, carry burdens for him when I can, and serve alongside him on the elder board. In 11 years we have had 2 major disagreements and no one but us knows what they were about because we used Biblical principles to resolve them between us. This doesn’t mean we don’t have different opinions or positions on things; it simply means we both understand the value of team ministry and, more importantly, we each respect the others position and call by God.</li>
<li><strong>Our Church leadership provides for our needs as a family.</strong> On top of a great relationship with my senior pastor; I am also blessed to serve with an elder board that understands how to care for their staff. Beyond the blessing of a salary that provides for our needs, they invest in my wife and I as a couple. They serve as mentors in our marriage, our parenting, and our lives in general. I am given the time off I need to care for my primary ministry, which is my family. Our ministry is supported with real money to accomplish our personal and ministry goals. Our church treats me as a valued member of the leadership team and not like a hired hand who is a baby sitter for their teenagers. There is no expectation that I will “grow out of” this phase. Rather, there is a hope I will be here for their grandchildren.</li>
</ol><p>I’ll say it again: I am blessed and honored to serve at Calvary Bible Church and hope to do so for many years to come! I pray that senior pastors, elders, and youth pastors alike see this as encouragement. Senior pastors and elders, I implore you to evaluate how you view your youth pastor (or your worship leader, discipleship pastor, etc..). Are you setting them up to succeed or are you guaranteeing that you will be looking for a new one every two to three years? Prayerfully look at your pay packages, budgets, and expectations. Expect them to produce fruit but be sure to reward them for their efforts, because your church will reap eternal benefits as they invest in your students.</p>
<p><em>I ask my fellow youth pastors to prayerfully consider committing to a ministry of longevity.</em> There are certainly some serving in youth ministry who will be called for short-term assignments and many who will be called on to other roles. To those that this applies to, I say thank you for your faithfulness; you need to go without guilt or reservation. Always remember our primary call is obedience to the Lord’s call, not to a position. Having said that, I also believe there are some who need to simply stay where they are. For those who are, I challenge you to stick it out, be committed to personal growth in Christ, develop great relationships with your pastor and elders, and keep challenging the younger portion of the current generation of the church to service and growth!</p>
<p> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/itbelongstothem.wordpress.com/111/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/itbelongstothem.wordpress.com/111/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="https://pixel.wp.com/b.gif?host=itbelongstothem.wordpress.com&amp;blog=27060495&amp;post=111&amp;subd=itbelongstothem&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" /></p>
</div></div></div><section class="field field-name-field-topic field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Topics:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topics/itbelongstothem">Itbelongstothem</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topics/christianity">Christianity</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topics/student-ministry">Student Ministry</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topics/youth-ministry">Youth Ministry</a></li></ul></section> <h3 class="field-label">
Link </h3>
<div class="field field-name-field-link field-type-text field-label-above view-mode-rss">
https://itbelongstothem.wordpress.com/2012/10/09/ministry-longevity/ </div>
Tue, 09 Oct 2012 13:11:10 +0000rob92 at http://cbcvt.orgHelping Students Avoid Baggagehttp://cbcvt.org/blog/helping-students-avoid-baggage
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>One of the most heartbreaking parts of being a youth minister is watching students decide to walk away from the Lord to “live it up while I am young”. Sure, sometimes students are going to make sinful decisions simply because they are human beings with a sin problem, and frankly that is something we all do. But what I am talking about is the willful decisions to set aside their Christianity so that it ceases to be an impediment to fun. It is a decision that in every case leads to consequences, baggage, and, in to many cases, a complete rejection of Christ.</p>
<p>While I believe that God’s grace is indeed able to cover the sins of ones youth, or old age for that matter, I lament the baggage that these young people are adding to their lives. For instance, if a young lady decides to “live it up” by experimenting with sex and then gets pregnant she changes her life direction completely. She is faced as a young person with the reality of having the fate of a new life in her hands. Whether she decides to parent the child, put him/her up for adoption, or have an abortion she will live with the consequences of this decision for the rest of her life. Or what if a young man decides to “live it up” by partying and one night, at the age of 17, loses his license or worse because he decides to drive drunk. Again, this young man will live with the consequences of this decision for the remainder of his life.</p>
<p>God can redeem these kinds of tragic situations, but I believe He has a better plan that will help young people avoid having to walk through these minefields of consequences! Without entering into a “were they ever really saved” debate, I want to challenge us to consider a plan to counter this thinking in some of the youth we see in our churches. I think we need to help our students understand some key truths about who they are and the amazing plans He has for them.</p>
<ol><li><strong>They must understand their Creator and Savior.</strong> Every young person who comes in contact with our church or youth program must be introduced to the Creator of the universe. Not the “Big Guy upstairs” or the generic “God” that most people aren’t afraid to talk about, but rather we need to ensure that they learn about the one true God who alone can offer salvation. Our students need this message from John 14:6; “<em>Jesus answered, </em><em>“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.</em><em> If you really know me, you will know my Father as well.”</em> We need to be sure that our ministries are focused on boldly proclaiming the power of the Gospel in both word and deed.</li>
<li><strong>They must understand their identity.</strong> One of the biggest issues in youth culture today seems to be that of identity. We live in a world where young people don’t realize how special they are. We have an epidemic of cutting, self-abuse, bullying, and other behaviors that show a complete lack of recognition that they are “fearfully and wonderfully made” by a Creator who deeply loves them. Even many who are truly disciples of Christ fail to recognize their identity in Christ as seen in Ephesians 2:10; “<em>For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do</em>.” The realization of this identity as a child should spur them on to holiness, righteousness, and self-control. Not because they are able to earn more love because of these things or even accomplish them in their own strength, but rather as a result of the wonderful saving grace they have experienced through the Savior. It is partially our job as Shepherds to help them see this identity. We need to come alongside them and open the scriptures with them as partners on a journey to spiritual maturity.</li>
<li><strong>They must understand their current role in the church.</strong> Those students in our ministry, who are redeemed, reconciled, and regenerated disciples of Christ need to know that they have a <em>present</em> role in His church. I believe that this faulty thinking that they can live how they want now and get it together later is partially a result of us sending them the message that it’s true! We neglect to give them a place in the current ministry of the church. We lecture them about being “the future of the church” but forget that they are also the <em>present</em>. It is imperative and biblical that we empower our students to do ministry <em>now</em> because according to the word of God, <em>all</em> are called to be ministers. Note that in the 1 Peter 2:9 we see no age distinction: <em>“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”</em> Our ministry needs to include this exhortation so that students can see themselves as useful servants of the King today. If they are declaring His praises while living for Him, they will be less likely to see earthly living as the better alternative.</li>
</ol><p>Once we help today’s students see the full power of the gospel and help them embrace their identity in Christ I believe that they will become less prone to make the decision to willfully walk away. This will create healthier disciples who won’t have to struggle with some of the baggage, consequences, and pain that “living it up now” are guaranteed to cause.</p>
<p> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/itbelongstothem.wordpress.com/105/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/itbelongstothem.wordpress.com/105/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="https://pixel.wp.com/b.gif?host=itbelongstothem.wordpress.com&amp;blog=27060495&amp;post=105&amp;subd=itbelongstothem&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1" width="1" height="1" /></p>
</div></div></div><section class="field field-name-field-topic field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Topics:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topics/itbelongstothem">Itbelongstothem</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topics/christianity">Christianity</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topics/discipleship">Discipleship</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topics/student-ministry">Student Ministry</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topics/youth-ministry">Youth Ministry</a></li></ul></section> <h3 class="field-label">
Link </h3>
<div class="field field-name-field-link field-type-text field-label-above view-mode-rss">
https://itbelongstothem.wordpress.com/2012/10/05/helping-students-avoid-baggae/ </div>
Fri, 05 Oct 2012 13:00:13 +0000rob90 at http://cbcvt.org